Vauxhall Ampera Eco-Claim Of Driving Electrically For 360 Miles Found To Be False

Vauxhall Knuckles Rapped Over Stretching Ampera Eco Claims

It was the stuff of electric dreams - an advert that boasted a car which could drive 360 miles on electricity.

However, the dream has soured for car maker Vauxhall, which has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Agency for its advert that the new Ampera could "drive electricity further". The ad has been banned for misleading consumers.

General Motors, parent company of Vauxhall, claimed its advertising material made it clear that the car would drive 50 miles on a fully charged battery before the Ampera's "range extender" mode takes over for the remainder of the 360 miles.

The range extender works by using the internal combustion engine, which acts as an on-board generator for the electric motor and will, according to General Motors, take the car the remaining distance using electricity generated from the petrol in its fuel tank.

Vauxhall strongly defended the allegations, saying that as the petrol engine doesn't control the wheels, the claim for electrically driving for 360 miles should stand.

But the Advertising Standards Agency said that having reviewed the footage, it believed most viewers would not understand that the car was in some circumstances powered by electricity generated with a petrol engine.

The watchdog therefore banned the advertisement on the grounds it was misleading and on false environmental claims.

Electric cars are set to be big business over the coming years. A report from Global Information Incorporated claims sales will reach 130 million a year before 2025.

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